Make Your Own Pesto

Making homemade pesto has been on my want-to-do list forEver!  My garden is overflowing with basil that needs to get used up.  So, after my facebook friend posted this recipe, I knew there was no excuse for me to tarry any longer.  Mmmm, I am glad I finally got around to it; it was a nice change from ordinary pasta sauce. :)

 

Ingredients:

2 cups basil leaves

1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup pine nuts or toasted almonds  (I used almonds)

1/4 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan  (I used a blend of Parmesan and Romano)

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1/2 tsp lemon juice

salt

Directions:

- Toast pine nuts (almonds) in a skillet with a little olive oil for a couple of minutes until golden

- In blender (I use the Ninja NJ600 Pro Blender) or food processor, mix dry ingredients until well chopped. Add olive oil in a thin stream while blender is running.

- Continue blending, scraping sides, until well blended. Add lemon juice.

Our favorite way to eat pesto is on buttered toast, so I keep it pretty thick.

*Linked to Tasty Tuesday and Try a New Recipe Tuesday

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